Current Undergraduates

In order to assist students who are unable to meet the cost of financing a college education, the Office of Student Financial Aid administers an extensive program of scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time employment opportunities. Demonstrated financial need is the primary factor used in the awarding of financial aid, although some scholarships are given each year in recognition of superior academic achievement or special talent.

General Eligibility Standards

Applicants should be aware that virtually all financial assistance awarded by the College is limited to:

Students who have been accepted into a program that will lead to a degree.

Students who are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens.

Students who are enrolled at the College carrying at least one-half the normal full-time academic load (limited Federal Pell Grants are available to some students studying less than half-time).

Students who are maintaining satisfactory academic progress (see below).

For financial aid purposes, student status is normally verified at the end of the Add period (first two weeks of a semester). Hence, those who are officially classified as non-matriculated students, visiting students, or special students should anticipate that their awards would be canceled. Students whose status at the end of the Add period is less than full time should expect that the amount of their award(s) might be reduced proportionately and/or canceled.

Students enrolled in a program designed to lead to a second baccalaureate degree or in the Rhode Island Teacher Certification Program (RITE) are considered ineligible for virtually all grant/gift assistance provided by or through Rhode Island College. Second baccalaureate degree and RITE students may be considered for financial assistance in the form of loan and/or work opportunities.

Application Procedure for 2015-2016

Any undergraduate student who desires financial aid from the College must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.gov. We strongly encourage students to apply on-line, but students wishing to use the paper FAFSA may request up to three copies by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.

Preference for financial aid provided by the College is given to students who have the FAFSA on file at the federal processing center by March 1. Applications received after March 1 are only considered for funds that may be available after on-time applicants have been awarded. In order to meet the deadline, you should have your form either postmarked by February 15, 2015 or transmitted (on the Web) by February 23, 2015.

Applications should be submitted as soon after January 1 as possible. To have your FAFSA information sent to Rhode Island College, enter our Federal School Code, 003407, in Step 6 of the FAFSA. It is not necessary to list the college name, address or state, but be sure to enter a housing code to indicate where you plan to live while attending the College. While it is preferable to use income figures from a completed 2014 income tax return, you may use estimated income figures if necessary to ensure on-time application.

After the FAFSA is submitted, the federal processor will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). Be sure that Rhode Island College is listed on the SAR, otherwise we will not be able to receive your information from the federal processor. If Rhode Island College is not listed or a SAR is not received within four to six weeks, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 Financial aid awards are not automatically renewable unless specified otherwise in your award letter. Almost all student aid at the College must be reapplied for every year.

Financial Aid for Summer Sessions

In addition to the process outlined above, students who wish to apply for financial assistance for summer sessions must submit a Rhode Island College Application for Financial Aid - Summer Sessions. These forms are available from the Office of Student Financial Aid on or about February 1 each year.

A form may also be obtained online (click here for Forms page). Summer Session aid is contingent upon the availability of funds and normally consists of Pell Grants, Direct Loans and Federal Work-Study. Preference for Work-Study is given to applicants who file summer applications prior to April 1.

Standards of satisfactory academic progress for student aid recipients measure both the quantity and quality of course work completed. All credit hours attempted, with the exception of credit hours dropped during the first two weeks of the semester (or corresponding time for Summer session courses), are counted to determine placement in the schedule below. In addition, federal regulations require that student aid eligibility be terminated once a student has attempted 150% of the credit hours needed to complete an undergraduate degree program. Satisfactory academic progress is measured once each academic year at the end of the Spring semester.

CREDITS ATTEMPTED

REQUIRED SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION

MINIMUM CUMULATIVE G.P.A.

0 to 12

-----

-----

13 to 29

40%

1.00

30 to 59

45%

1.75

60 to 89

50%

1.90

90 to 119

55%

2.00

120 to 149

60%

2.00

150 to 180

67%

2.00

Transfer Credits: Credits transferred into Rhode Island College are included as credits attempted to determine placement in the above schedule.

Treatment of "W", "I", and "F" Grades: Credits for all courses with these grades will be added to credits attempted to determine placement in the above schedule.

REPEATED COURSES: Credits for all repeated courses will be included in the total of credits attempted.

TOTAL LIMIT ON ATTEMPTED CREDITS: Rhode Island College does not provide student financial aid to undergraduate students attempting more than 180 credits.

APPEALS AND REINSTATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY: If a determination is made that a financial aid applicant is not making satisfactory academic progress, the applicant will be considered ineligible for all student financial aid programs for the next academic period. If a student believes that there are extenuating circumstances that contributed to the failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, the determination of student aid ineligibility may be appealed to the Director of Student Financial Aid. Student appeals should be submitted in writing. Student appeals not resolved by the Director of Student Financial Aid may be further appealed to the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The above Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress are not designed to replace the standards that the College uses for Academic Dismissal/Probation. It is possible for a student to lose financial aid eligibility without losing status as a degree candidate. However, once a student loses status as a degree candidate, he or she will also lose eligibility for financial aid.

Student aid eligibility may be reinstated during the academic year once a student successfully completes the required number of credits with the required cumulative grade point average.